Julie A. Rainey's Blog, page 7

Author Spotlight - Pandra Selivanov

Description:
Future Slave was inspired by Larry Koger's book Black Slaveowners. Black teenager Jokeem from the 21st century goes back in time and finds himself a slave in the old South. Not only that, his owner is a black woman and a former slave. With historical people documented in Mr. Koger's book and some surprising facts about slavery, this is a fantasy in the spirit of Jane Yolen's book, The Devil's Arithmetic.

Where to Buy:
Amazon

Author Website:
Thinking Out Loud
Description:
The story of a man who lost his brother and found God, "The Pardon" is based on a real person in the Bible-the good thief who died on a cross next to Jesus Christ and was welcomed into Paradise. When his brother David is crucified next to Christ, Daniel is willing to go to any lengths for revenge, but when he is recruited by the Romans to spy on the Christians, will he fulfill his mission or find a larger purpose in life?

Where to Buy:
Amazon

Reviews:
A Fresh Perspective
By Sandra Henry

The Pardon is an original, compelling blend of historical fact and fiction. Author Pandra Selivanov offers readers a fresh perspective in her story of Daniel, whose brother David was crucified with Jesus Christ. At first a wild and bitter young thief, Daniel travels a bumpy road to healing and redemption, in time becoming a devoted follower of Jesus. Along the way, he learns of love and sacrifice, faith and forgiveness. With its diverse characters (some Biblical, others ripe from the author's imagination), The Pardon chronicles Daniel's path to salvation. It is also an entertaining novella which reminds us of God's love for us, no matter the circumstances which ultimately lead us to Him. Sandy Henry, author A Child's Bedtime Companion, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
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Today you shall be with me in Paradise
By M.M.B.

I was immediately intrigued when I read the basis for this story. There is little in the Bible more moving, at the same time simple and incomprehensible, than the thief on the cross seeking and receiving forgiveness, and the promise Christ made to that man. It is an event which bespeaks the very core of Christian faith. While I have long been effected by the story of this event, aware of what it means for me, I had never considered the effect it would have had on those close to the situation. The author gives us an intriguing look at how it might have been and, through these characters (real and imagined), encourages the reader to accept just how personal the story is. This story is a beautiful reminder for those who believe and is an invitation to those who wonder or question.

Bad Days

When I was a child I used to watch Garfield on the Saturday morning cartoon show. For some reason I really loved this cartoon and when I grew older I began collecting all sorts of Garfield items; stuffed animals, cups, pencils, plates...the list goes on. Most of these items I still have today.

One of Garfield's famous sayings is "I Hate Monday's". It seems however, that bad days aren't reserved solely for the beginning of the week, but can drag on for days and days, even weeks.

A bad day can start with an innocent trip down the road and blam, you hit a deer. Then you get some horribly bad news about a loved one. Next it's raining and you have to help someone move. You get into a gigantic, enormous, huge fight with someone you deeply care about and million other tiny inconveniences.

All these little things, and not so little things, began to add up over the course of a few days. You finally reach Friday,and a  instead you're greeted with more crappy happenings. It starts to effect a person after awhile and instead of spreading humor and joy, you spread grumpiness and sarcasm.

But enough whining from me, does anyone else experience times like this in your life?

Author Spotlight - Becca Mills

Description:
Of all the beings that have lived on Earth, what if just a few had the power to make new realities, according to their desires? What would they create? The Second Emanation. A shadow world where ancient creatures persist, where humanity's dominance is far less certain, where wonder competes with horror. A world like an autumn forest, its realities as multiple and layered as fallen leaves. The world that gives us our gods.

In Nolander, the Second Emanation crosses paths with a seemingly ordinary young woman from the American Midwest. It'll never be the same again.

Amateur photographer Beth Ryder sees plenty wrong with her life. At twenty-three, she feels trapped in her small Wisconsin town. The guy she's been seeing lately wants nothing more to do with her, and her sister-in-law is doing her best to push Beth out of the family.

Then one day, Beth takes a picture no one can explain. Her quest for answers leads her far from her small-town roots and opens her eyes to the unseen world around her. Sucked into a dangerous organization responsible for policing visitors from Earth's shadow world, Beth discovers that humanity is far from alone, and that its fellow creatures, many endowed with disturbing abilities, do not wish it well.

As events spin out of her control, Beth must leave her restrictive but safe life behind. Thrown into a frightening new world, she struggles not to surrender more than she can bear to lose, and not to become something she can't bear to be. 

At 99,000 words, Nolander is a full-length novel, the first in Mills's Emanations fantasy series.

Where to Buy:
Amazon

Author Website:
The Active Voice

Reviews:
This is a very well written book and the storyline is very good. I wasn't sure I would like this one but I was quite surprised. I will be reading this one again at a later date and I can't wait to read the next book. I highly recommend this.
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Really enjoyed this novel! I love how the main character was not squeamish and took everything in stride! This book will not disappoint!
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I was a bit hesitant to download Nolander first, because it is part of a series. I have read way too many books in this genre that are part of a trilogy, and consequently, NOTHING happens or comes to any kind of conclusion in the first book (probably intended to draw readers in and make them buy the second book, but that's not how it works for me, unfortunately). However, this book is different. Nolander is just a very, very good read. I couldn't put it away, and the many twists and turns keep you guessing in a GOOD way and not a frustrated 'oh-my-god-what-the-hell-is-going-ON!!' way. The writing style is fluent, there's lots of humour in this book, the main character is sympathetic, the supporting characters are not black-and-white or two-dimensional, and there's a great plot. Don't pass this one up. Wonderful book!
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Huzzah for a smooth, polished new fantasy! _Nolander_ is clean and fresh. It plays an established theme but never descends into timeworn genre conventions. Ms. Mills has wisely left lots of room for further plot and chara development. Can't wait for the next installment.
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This story was terrific, well written and interesting from start to finish. I definitely will be watching for the next one to come out, and I will absolutely be reading this one again.

Author Spotlight - Walt Lamberg

Description:
This collection of nine contemporary short stories presents a variety of characters and experiences, often with a measure of humor. In “Wild Horseback Ride” a young boy, who loves to play cowboys and Indians, gets closer to a horse than he wants to be. In “Promise,” a graduate student in English learns the full meaning of the word “promise.” In “T for Texas, T for Tyrone, Too,” a new teacher at a community college is mistaken for a former teacher, with laughable consequences.

In “Dr. Parsons’ Heart,” an assistant professor meets his worse nightmare, a full professor who is an equal opportunity bigot. In “Downsized,” a laid-off man wonders if he will ever feel needed again. In “Alex’s Desk,’ a man finds a new job and an unusual office-mate.

In “Haroon, the Manager,” a man rises to his highest level of incompetence and is promoted to the position of manager. In “Networking” a soon to be laid-off worker follows the common advice to network. In “The Zen Guitar Lesson,” a student gains knowledge both of the guitar and himself.

Where to Buy:
Amazon

Author Website:
Amazon Author Page
Facebook

Author Spotlight - Celia Vogel

Description:
Temperatures are rising and superstition reigns supreme!

Eighteen year old Jillian Crossland has her life planned out.  Or so she thinks!
Despite her better judgement, a séance one evening sets a blueprint for disaster when fate
steps in and shakes up her plans and her life!

Jilly-Bean is a novel that explores contemporary life in the throes of global
warming and on the edge of madness.

Where to Buy:
Amazon

Random Thought - NASCAR

This "sport" baffles me. How can a bunch of cars driving in a circle even come close to qualifying for the classification of a sport?

I like to watch sports for the excitement of it, the thrill of watching a linebacker sack the quarterback or a home-run in the bottom of the eleventh inning with two strikes. A feat my Cardinals man David Freese pulled off in Game 6 of the World Series, setting up the win for Game 7 and the most dramatic comeback in World Series History. Still gives me goosebumps.
   
How could watching a car go around a track five-hundred times even come close? I just don't get it. Then of course there is a bit of excitement when the cars crash, but that to me is sort of like the Romans at the Coliseum. I realize the sports I watch also come with a risk of bodily harm but they aren't traveling 200mph with fifty other cars right behind them.

One of life's mysteries I suppose.

Author Spotlight - Amanda Brenner

Description:
Charlotte Beckford watched helplessly as the man she loved was gunned down in the middle of a dusty Kansas street.  In another month, they would have married.  Now, as she knelt and cradled Adam's broken body, she screamed hysterically at his murderer, swearing that she would see him hang.  But Bowie Rayburn laughed at her threat, her words echoing behind him as he rode away unconcerned.  After all, he thought, what could she do?  She was just a girl.

Shadow of the Rope is a tale of grief, revenge, love, and forgiveness played out across the rolling plains of the frontier West.  It is also a story of ultimate regret and the healing solace of time.

Where to Buy:
Amazon

Author Website:
Amanda Brenner

Author Spotlight - John Walz

Description:
In Edge City there are four types of people: the criminals, the civilians, the police and, finally, the Mercenaries who are the true defense of the city. To escape poverty, young Tobias Ravencroft wants to become a mercenary. That is, until he meets Nikita Malloy, a femme fatale who seems to be hiding something. Why does she seem so interested in Tobias? Discovering he has strange new powers, he finally gets the chance to join the mercenary group called the Storming Tigers.

Where to Buy:
Amazon
Lulu

Author Website:
Facebook

Author Spotlight - Rebecca Weinstein

Description:
Sixteen-year-old Kit Maguire has never met her mother, made lasting friendships, or had a permanent home, and she's always known that she was a little different from others. When Kit and her father move to Kyoto, Japan, her father insists that this time will be better, but Kit is reluctant to give it a try. The kids in Kyoto seem to be the same as everywhere else: judging her for her looks before they get to know her. She figures it's just one more short stop that she won't make friends, so why bother?

With the appearance of her thought-to-be-dead mother, Kit yearns to find out more about her mom, their family, and why she has the ability to conjure green fire. When a girl named Yoriko insists on becoming friends and two of the hottest guys in school vie for her attention, things get complicated. Kit learns just who she is and what she's capable of, but with that knowledge comes the realization that she may never be able to have a relationship with Riku; as their clans are bitter enemies. Kit hopes that their love will bring the clans together and that she'll get everything she's ever wanted: family, friends, and a place to call home.

Where to Buy:
Amazon

Author Website:
Rebecca Weinstein
Twitter: @rweinstein6

Reviews:
"Yokai" is somewhat of a change in direction for Rebecca Weinstein, as it expertly immerses the reader in Japanese culture as seen through the eyes of someone who has not lived her entire life there. Fans of manga will find much to enjoy in "Yokai", from legends to the paranormal, and the story line never slows down as Yokai is forced to cope with a world that is not of her making. Thumbs up for "Yokai"!

Author Spotlight & Interview - J. Naomi Ay

Bio
Naomi lives in the north Olympic Peninsula and is mom to 3 kids and a Pomeranian. Naomi has always been a fan of historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. When not dreaming of space adventures, Naomi works in the renewable energy business and spends time out on the water. Links
Facebook
Blog
Amazon
Twitter: @jnaomiay
Books
The Boy who Lit up the Sky is the first of the five part series The Two Moons of Rehnor. It follows the life of Senya, a man created by the enemy kings of Rehnor to rule the planet and end the wars forever. However, Senya turns out to be a whole lot stranger than anyone anticipated. This epic saga is a delightful fantasy with paranormal, romance and light science fiction elements. My Enemy's Son is the second of the five part series The Two Moons of Rehnor. It follows the life of Senya, a man created by the enemy kings of Rehnor to rule the planet and end the wars forever. However, Senya turns out to be a whole lot stranger than anyone anticipated. This epic saga is a delightful fantasy with paranormal, romance and light science fiction elements. The Two Moons of Rehnor, Senya and Katie have settled into a somewhat normal life. It does not last long though as Senya is plagued by a strange and debilitating blood condition brought on by the task he has been sent to Rozari to complete. In a moment of weakness, he is captured by his nemesis and uncle, Prince Akan. Commander Katie and the crew of the Starship Discovery fight to save him, eliminating Akan as a threat, and leaving Senya’s path to the throne clear. Now Katie must learn to live within the restricted rules of the Rehnorian Court or escape back to the stars for her last chance of freedom. There is other evil in the galaxy though and for their own safety, neither Senya nor Katie may have a choice. Firestone Rings is the fourth of the five part series The Two Moons of Rehnor. It follows the life of Senya, a man created by the enemy kings of Rehnor to rule the planet and end the wars forever. However, Senya turns out to be a whole lot stranger than anyone anticipated. This epic saga is a delightful fantasy with paranormal, romance and light science fiction elements. The Days of the Golden Moons is the fifth of the five part series The Two Moons of Rehnor. It follows the life of Senya, a man created by the enemy kings of Rehnor to rule the planet and end the wars forever. However, Senya turns out to be a whole lot stranger than anyone anticipated. This epic saga is a delightful fantasy with paranormal, romance and light science fiction elements. Places to Purchase
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Interview
What is your book about? 

I actually have a 5 part series.  Originally it was one enormous epic saga masterpiece, I'll never write another word again, kind of novel.  Then I broke it up into a five part series called The Two Moons of Rehnor.  Basically, the series is a little bit SciFi, a little bit romance, and a lot of fantasy and a fair amount of paranormal.  There's also spiritualism, politics, chick lit and a few other genres thrown in there too.  I call my genre "All of the above." 

The story is told through the voices of people around Senya, a very strange boy who was born as part of a truce between kingdoms.  The story follows him through his youth, through his travel to the mother planet and then back to his home planet of Rehnor where he becomes King.  Senya is, shall we say, multi-featured?  That's where the paranormal elements come in.    Running parallel to this is the story of an absolutely and completely normal human girl, Katie, who joins the Allied Spaceforce, meets up with Senya and become his wife and future Queen, maybe.  They're supposed to live happily ever after except for periods of absolute hell which throw them off track.  Throughout the whole series is the big question, who exactly or what exactly is Senya and what is he doing here?

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

In general or specific to writing?  To writing, it's commas.  I hate commas.  They're either always in the wrong place or missing altogether.  Commas should be eliminated along with their cousins the apostrophes.  I hate them too.  My biggest pet peeve in general?  Gosh, I have so many so I'll just pick one.  Weeds.  I hate weeds, they're always in the wrong place or just everywhere. 

What is your favorite book of all time? 

Pride and Prejudice…sigh.

What is your inspiration for your writing? 

Boredom.  Bad TV.  The desire to escape from my real boring and bad TV afflicted life.

What is your favorite day of the week? 

Thursday because it's the precursor to the weekend.  Friday, it's already the weekend which is good so it's my second favorite but Thursday I've got a whole day to anticipate the weekend still.

If you had to be stranded on a desert island with one of your characters, who would it be and why? 

I guess probably Senya because I'd want to be stranded anywhere with Senya but if I wasn't Katie he wouldn't be interested so what would the point of that be?  If I was just me, then I'd probably want to be stranded with someone like Thad who at least would make our stranding very entertaining.

Do you have any advice for other authors?

 Not really.  I'm not really in the position to offer any advice although I'm happy to have them advise me.  The thing is about self-publishing though, you don't have to take any advice if you don't want to.